Roberta Helmer
| Roberta Helmer | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 19, 19?? Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A. |
| Pen name | Christina Skye |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Nationality | U.S.American |
| Period | 1990–present |
| Genres | Romance |
|
www.christinaskye.com |
|
Roberta Helmer (b. July 19 in Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.), under her pseudonym Christina Skye, is the best-selling American author of more than twenty-two historical and contemporary romance novels, many of which have appeared on the USAToday bestseller list and the Publishers Weekly bestseller list. Her books have been translated into eight languages.[1] Under her own name Helmer has written five non-fiction books about Chinese art and culture.
Contents |
[edit] Biography
Roberta Helmer was born in Dayton, Ohio, a descendant of American Revolutionary War hero Adam Helmer. She attended the University of Pennsylvania and Ohio State University, where she learned to speak fluent Chinese, French, and Japanese.[2]
After receiving a doctorate in classical Chinese literature from Ohio State,[3] Helmer became a translator, and was once nearly arrested when her European employer asker her to escort two ladies of dubious virtue into China's State Guest House.[4] She later worked as a consultant to the National Geographic Society and the American Museum of Natural History.[1]
Helmer's first writing attempts focuses on Chinese art and culture. After numerous interviewes with puppeteers, sculptors, painters, and other artists who explained some of their centuries-old skills, Helmer write four non-fiction books.[5] Her first historical romance, a Regency, was rejected by the first editor who received it because it did not strictly adhere to the current Regency convention. The following week, two other editors asked to represent her,[3] and that first novel sold in 1990 in only six days.[1] She has since authored five additional historical romances, nine contemporary romantic suspense novels, and seven paranormal romances.[4]
Helmer's novels, which are always laced with humor and passion, feature smart, stubborn women and tough men who embark on adventures.[1] Many of her historical romances tell stories about outsiders who must struggle to fit in.[3] Her novels are popular worldwide, and have been translated into eight languages.[1]
Two of her novels in the Code Name series, Code Name: Baby and Code Name: Princess, were selected as Cosmopolitan Magazine Book Club Selections[6] and Code Name: Baby was named the Borders Best Romance of 2005.[4] She has been nominated multiple times for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, and is a two-time finalist for the National Reader's Choice Award. Romantic Times Magazine gave her a Career Achievement Award, and she has been nominated for numerous other Romantic Times Awards for various novels.[6] In 2005 Helmer was inducted into the Affaire de Coeur Hall of Fame for her "pioneering efforts..and ability to remain a steadfast influence in women's fiction."[4]
She lives in on the western slopes of McDowell Mountains in Arizona.[2]
[edit] Bibliography
[edit] Non-Fiction
- The Poems of the Han-shan collection (1977)
- China's Crafts : The Story of How They're Made and What They Mean (1980)
- China's Puppets (1984)
- Shopping in China : arts, crafts, and the unusual (1986)
[edit] As Christina Skye
[edit] Regency Era
- Defiant Captive (1990)
- The Black Rose (1991)
- East of Forever (1993)
[edit] DeLamere
- Come the Night (1994)
- Come the Dawn (1995)
[edit] Draycott Abbey
- Hour of the Rose (1994)
- Bride of the Mist (2004)
- Bridge of Dreams (1995)
- Key to Forever (1997)
- Season of Wishes (1997)
- Enchantment (1998)
- Christmas Knight (1998)
- The Perfect Gift (1999)
- Bridge of Dreams / Enchantment (2007)
[edit]
- Going Overboard (2001)
- My Spy (2002)
- Hot Pursuit (2003)
[edit] Code Name
- Nanny (2004)
- Princess (2004)
- Baby (2005)
- Blondie (2006)
- Bikini (2007)
[edit] Single novels
- The Ruby (1992)
- 2000 Kisses (1999)
[edit] Anthologies in collaboration
- Haunting Love Stories (1991) (with Shannon Drake, Betina Krahn, Linda Lael Miller)
[edit] References and sources
- ^ a b c d e "Christina Skye". eHarlequin. 2007. http://www.eharlequin.com/author.html;jsessionid=550DA4C30BBB40D81C81A0FD2CCEC3B0?authorid=342. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
- ^ a b "Author of the Month Christina Skye". A Romance Review. June 2004. http://www.aromancereview.com/artmonth/christinaskye.phtml. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
- ^ a b c "ARR Interview With Christina Skye". A Romance Review. June 2004. http://www.aromancereview.com/interviews/christinaskye.phtml. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
- ^ a b c d "Our Featured Author Christina Skye". The Road to Romance. http://roadtoromance.ca/month/monthSkye.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-16.[dead link]
- ^ White, Claire E. (January 2000). "A Conversation With Christina Skye". Writers Write. http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/jan00/skye.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
- ^ a b "Awards". Christina Skye Official Website. 2007. http://www.christinaHelmer.com/pdf/CSkyeawards.pdf. Retrieved 2007-04-16.
